CROWD FUNDING

FOR
INDEPENDENT CINEMA

C HALLENGES & OP PORTUNITIES

WHAT IS INDEPENDENT CINEMA

HOLLYWOOD
Free from studio funding, control and distribution.
Individual producer or small group of people funding.
Film festivals and small scale releases.
George Lucas, Steven Spielberg to Christopher Nolan started off as Independent
filmmakers.
INDIA
Almost 90% of the films are produced out side studios.
So, the definition needs a change.
Formulaic mainstream cinema and Independent cinema
Its more of form and content than the production pattern alone
HISTORY OF CROWD FUNDING

Cooperative cinema 1976 Manthan

by Shyam Benegal. Funded by Amul
cooperative. 5,00,000 farmers 2 Rs
each.

Collaborative cinema 1984 Odessa

Collective by John Abraham: Amma
Ariyan (Report to Mother) 1986
NEW WAVE OF CROWD FUNDING

Web and social network based crowd

funding.
Onirs I am 2010 (400 people across
45 cities) HINDI -
Pawan Kumars Lucia 2013 (110
Investors KANNADA- INR 50,00,000
MY JOURNEY IN TO CROWD FUNDING

In 2010 started a Facebook page Telugu

Independent Cinema
In 2012 we made a short film by using
Facebook as a platform
Edari Varsham is the title
38 producers with 2.7 lakhs worth
contributions.
Its a cooperative-collaborative-crowd
funded film
Went in to many national and
international film festivals.
2014-15 AND PESARATTU

A silly thought inspired by RGV made it

possible
Many expressed interest
12 producers. Till now haven't met half of
them.
38 lakhs in cash and 14 brands worth 10
lakhs
48 lakhs including release
11 days of shoot and 30 new actors
68 screens across AP and Telangana
It was a box office disaster
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES

Every second person in South India is Methodical approach

interested in films Legal safety net
1 Cr. They may not be able to spend. High liability
But 1 lakh is no issue
Answerability & Accountability
Watching a shoot is a luxury. Being on
Volatile situation at market
set is an experience. Such people sure
will be more than willing to pay
PROGRESSFUTURE

Already 4 films in Telugu

Vasham and Manu (with 1 Cr)
I am making a crowd funded web
series First crowd funded short film
First crowd funded film and Now first
crowd funded web series.
For independent cinema this is a
bright future.
THANK YOU

M A H ES H K AT H I